LOCAL PRESS

Vucic in Sarajevo: Together we are a force (Tanjug/RTS)
Brnabic: Gratitude to Cyprus for continued support to Serbia’s sovereignty and territorialintegrity (Tanjug/RTV)
Working group on further steps for improving election process (Tanjug/RTV)
Minority parties asking to be included in talks under EU auspices (Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Vucic talks to Avaz announcing his Tuesday’s visit to B&H and calling for regional cooperation (Dnevni avaz)
B&H Independence Day marked in FB&H; Komsic, Dzaferovic and Izetbegovic believe that time will come when Independence Day will be marked in the whole country (O kanal)
March 1 is not and will not be holiday in the RS (BHT1)
Foreign Embassies and officials congratulate B&H Independence Day (Dnevni avaz)
Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center publishes ‘Genocide Papers’ to show process of creation of Serb state in B&H that resulted in genocide; Reactions (N1)
Komsic: Nothing will be the same after publishing of ‘Genocide Papers’; Komsic and Dzaferovic welcome publishing of ‘Genocide Papers’ (N1)
Dodik: Komsic uses ‘Genocide Papers’ to go forward with his political agenda as reserve Bosniak member of Presidency (ATV)
Montenegro

Djukanovic: We’re witnessing increased hate speech, national and ethnic intolerance (CdM)
Radulovic elects seven new ambassadors (Dan)
Albania

Borrell: Still no date for intergovernmental conference (Tirana Times)
Mazi: EU made it clear that conditions have been met, holding of intergovernmental conference a priority (Radio Tirana)
EP President after meeting with Rama: Albania is implementing key reforms; first intergovernmental conference should be held (Radio Tirana)
DP and LSI sign post-election coalition agreement (Tirana Times)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Monday 1 March 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic expects heavy pressures and joining of forces of Washington and Brussels concerning Kosovo (TV Prva/Tanjug/Beta)
Dacic: Serbia doesn’t agree to blackmail in regard with Kosovo and Metohija (TV Pink/Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic on non-paper: No need to waste time with such things (TV Prva/Beta/RTS)
Lajcak not coming to Belgrade with “ultimatum” (Tanjug)
Dacic after talks with McAllister: Invitation to parties to respond to inter-party dialogue (Tanjug/RTS)
European Parliament says second phase of inter-party dialogue launched (N1)
Stefanovic: Improving cooperation with Montenegro in field of defense (Tanjug)
Survey: National TV stations presenting positive image of Vucic (Nova/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Inzko: There is no room for glorification of war crimes and criminals (Glas Srpske)
Bosniak Diaspora in US, acting on orders of Sarajevo circles, raise unreasonable voice against Germany’s Schmidt? (Dnevni list)
Dzaferovic, Komsic, other officials congratulate B&H Independence (BHT1)
RS officials: March 1 will never be holiday for Serbs (ATV)
RS marks 29 years since adoption of first Constitution (RTRS)
Dodik announces launching of adoption of new RS Constitution (Nezavisne novine)
SDA, NiP criticize Grlic Radman’s statement about changes to B&H Election Law; HNS reacts to SDA statement (N1)
Komsic: Democratic standards cannot be lowered in amending of Election Law; Further ethnic complexes like HDZ B&H and official Zagreb are trying to achieve cannot be cemented (FTV)
Novakovic Bursac: RS does not want changes to way of election of representatives of Serb people and RS for member of B&H Presidency and B&H HoP (Dnevni list)
Dodik confirms that Tegeltija becomes his adviser; Reactions (N1)
US Administration engagement, HR in B&H and DPA discussed at panel discussion ‘RS Facing New Challenges’ held in Belgrade; Meyer: It is time for the RS to seriously consider organizing of referendum (ATV)
Weber: German initiative, by pushing new dynamic HR in person of Christian Schmidt, has exposed in the worst way the crisis of international policy in B&H, which is deeply divided and does not know how to proceed (N1)
Croatia

Grlic Radman: Croatia will not allow that anyone imposes civic organization of B&H (Vecernji list)
Turkish FM meets Milanovic; Milanovic underlines need to secure equal representation of all three peoples in B&H (HRT)
Orthodox Dignitary: Serb identity has two wings, one in Jasenovac, other in Kosovo (Hina)
Montenegro

Djukanovic’s cabinet responds to Abazovic’s allegations (CdM)
Montenegro imposed sanctions against five countries (Dan)
Republic of North Macedonia

Church wants census postponed, states its objection to the law on family violence and the planned education reforms (Republika)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Friday 26 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic meets Kosovo Serbs in Kursumlija (Tanjug/RTV)
Drecun: Lajcak pushed to the side ZSO, story about a non-paper appearing for who knows how many times (RTS)
Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnection important for whole region (RTS)
Dacic with Fabrizi on continuation of inter-party dialogue (Tanjug)
Bilcik: EP glad to help, as it did in 2019 upon Belgrade’s invitation (N1)
EU spokesman denies Lajcak bringing ultimatum to Belgrade (N1/Beta)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

US Embassy: US continues to provide full support to Euro-Atlantic integration processes in B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Turkovic says that with Commission for NATO Cooperation we are in situation, with support of US Ambassador and the NATO General in B&H, to form functioning body (FTV)
RS opposition, ruling structures accuse each other regarding NATO path of B&H (N1)
B&H sends report on progress in realization of Program of Reforms to NATO HQ in Brussels (EuroBlic/AJB)
Dodik and candidate for HR Schmidt agree in phone conversation that responsibility for future of B&H lies on elected officials in authorities (RTRS)
Turkovic: Current situation is that on one hand we want OHR to leave and at the same time we demand DPA to be fully implemented, which is impossible (FTV)
Cubrilovic says he is not afraid of his possible removal but it would not solve problems imposed by High Representative (EuroBlic)
B&H CEC establishes results of Doboj, Srebrenica elections (Hayat)
Croatia

Bosnia and Croatia sign military cooperation plan for 2021 (Hina)
Boskovic: Croats want to elect their representative, do not want imposed ‘member’ of Croat people (Vecernji list)
Europe thinking about abolition of principle of constituent peoples in B&H; Croats to become minority? (Jutarnji list)
Montenegro

Djeljosaj and Tuzi residents block boulevard towards Podgorica (CdM)
Do secret data leak from Montenegro? (Pobjeda)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski: Mijalkov fled to Belgrade, but had to return after pressure was put on Zaev (Republika)
Mijalkov in the dock as the court will reach its verdict in the 2015 wiretapping scandal (Republika)
Izet Medziti also turns his back on Zaev and DUI (Republika)
Large-scale Albanian protests planned in Skopje over the Good Friday massacre sentences (Republika)
Albania

EP calls on EU to hold intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia and Albania (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Thursday 25 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: Wrong are those who think we will give up what is ours (Tanjug/RTV/RTS)
Selakovc: EP Report inadmissible call for recognition of unilaterally declared independence of our province (RTS/Tanjug)
Selakovic: Belgrade fulfilled obligations under Brussels agreement, but Community of Serb Municipalities has not been established (Tanjug/RTV)
Dacic: I start talks with EP mediators, parties join in second half of March (RTS)
Blinken, EU Foreign Ministers discuss Kosovo dialogue policy (Beta)
Palmer and Lajcak bringing blackmail (Novosti)
Kosovo failed to enter Conference of European Constitutional Courts (Novosti)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

According to indictment Novalic prepared plan with aim to acquire illegal property gain from disputable procurement (O kanal/BHT1)
B&H CoM adopts Program of Reforms for NATO and decision on formation of Commission for Cooperation with NATO (O kanal)
Dodik: Cooperation with NATO acceptable, membership in NATO is not (ATV)
Sarovic: SNSD’s support to Program of Reforms for NATO is scandalous move and yet another shameful confirmation of SNSD leader Dodik’s true treacherous face (BN TV)
Borrell: I reject the idea that the EU is pretending that it wants Western Balkans among its ranks (Dnevni list)
Palmer: Although US is well acquainted with events in Balkans, it will not solve obligations of B&H officials (FTV/VoA)
Palmer’s statements spark reactions in RS (Glas Srpske/VoA)
Weber: Crucial for USA and Germany to join forces and define joint strategic policy towards B&H (Dnevni avaz)
Dodik says statements by Izetbegovic on Serb and Croat representatives being racists are unacceptable (RTRS)
Croatia

HDZ B&H welcomes establishing of Commission for Cooperation with NATO (Vecernji list)
Montenegro

Politics, SPC and espionage (Pobjeda)
Djukanovic issues decrees: Ambassadors recalled (CdM)
Republic of North Macedonia

What just happened!? (Republika)
Sela: Somebody more powerful than Zaev instructed Mijalkov to return (Republika)
Osmani flies directly from Paris to Sofia to meet Zaharieva (Republika/TV21)
Albania

DP and allies close deal on coalition (ADN)
Noto Exit Poll: The Opposition is Leading and Gaining Momentum (Tirana Times)
Borrell: EU will start the negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (Radio Tirana)

United Nations Office in Belgrade

Daily Media Highlights

Wednesday 24 February 2021

LOCAL PRESS

Vucic: I expect joint pressure from the EU and US for Serbia to recognize Kosovo (Tanjug/RTS/RTV)
Selakovic: Necessary for UNMIK to continue activities in an undiminished scope and with an unchanged mandate (RTS)
MEPs: Rule of law and normalization with Kosovo crucial for Serbia (N1)

REGIONAL PRESS

Bosnia & Herzegovina

SDA and HDZ B&H agree to form working groups in charge of FB&H-level issues primarily FB&H government formation, B&H Election Law and issues on EU path of B&H (O kanal)
Niksic: SDP B&H will not support any solution related to B&H Election Law that will introduce new segregation and new divisions (Nova BH)
International community wants to focus on election legislation reform in 2021 (Nezavisne)
Democratization Policy Council advocates ‘sandwich pressure’ strategy in B&H, in which citizens and IC would apply pressure on political elites (Dnevni list)
Dodik: Serbs were never more aware of their identity (RTRS/MIS TV)
FB&H HoP delegates Becirovic and Miletic submit proposal of amendments to B&H Criminal Code on banning genocide denial into urgent procedure (FTV)
Cubrilovic: HR’s ultimatum does not contribute to democratization and solving of some issues; Inzko is implementing conclusions of one political party (RTRS)
Eight FB&H parties address foreign embassies and seek urgent meetings on Srebrenica (Hayat)
Stromquist: Progress in area of rule of law is crucial for B&H (Fena)
Judge Blagojevic responds to Inzko: HR does not have mandate to impose laws (Glas Srpske)
Republic of North Macedonia

Mickoski calls on Zaev to resign after his latest rule of law disaster (Republika)
Zaev disappointed in LDP for leaving his group in parliament, but claims that the government will survive (Republika)